Nobody tells you how darn difficult breastfeeding really is. They also don’t tell you how emotional, beautiful and unpredictable it is being a breastfeeding mum or mama.
As you know, I never thought I’d breastfeed past the first six weeks, let alone, going for six years and some!

But what would have really helped me and still does help me is seeing photographs of real breastfeeding mums and babies, toddlers and children. I’m talking all those weird and wonderful positions the child or baby gets into, sometimes tandem feeding and whilst I’m so positive about breastfeeding, this is real life.

Here are some of my breastfeeding heros (real mums who have shared their breastfeeding photo and/or story with me, Mama Mei, I salute you!):

Let’s begin with Welsh Powerlifter mum Rachael Ruddock: ‘Breastfeeding on the leg curl in the gym! Before I had my eldest I was on the Welsh powerlifting team and lifting until 2 days before she was born. I’m currently tandem feeding my 6month old and 2yr old.”

Next up Becky Dickerson chills with a drink during a sleepy rather than an acrobatic breastfeeding moment.

She said: “This is me and my two year old.

“I never thought I would be feeding a toddler, in fact I still remember seeing people feeding six months old when I had a newborn and thinking it was weird!’

Nicole Walters explains how a mother’s intuition is always right.

She said: “Breastfeeding was hard but the best bonding experience I’ve ever done! They threatened me with NICU because although Iris wasn’t losing weight, she wasn’t gaining! I was told to top her up with formula but refused as that’s how I lost my supply with Lucas. I was right in my decision and she’s just a dinky little girl, even now at nearly two and she’s not breastfed for 10 months!”

Alex Pearce said that she was worried that she wouldn’t be able to breastfeed her second child.

“I couldn’t feed my first baby. No amount of help got him to latch. I had experts try and he wasn’t interested. So I expressed for 4.5 months as he (mostly) had EBM (Expressed Breast Milk).

“I feared I wouldn’t be able to feed my second baby, but I couldn’t be more wrong!

“He latched like a pro (with a little help with positioning, but that was my fault). I adored breastfeeding. It was hard, but so is making bottles at 2am! Both of my journeys were beautiful and unique and I wouldn’t change them. But being able to breastfeed was a dream of mine, and I’m so thankful I was able to do feed my second son.”

She said: “I’ve just scrolled back through thousands of photos on my phone and was really sad to find only one picture of me breastfeeding, and even that I took myself! This is me feeding my eldest at about 1 3/4 years old. I love how he used to play with my hair, and still does now! We carried on until he was about 2 1/2. I don’t seem to have any photos of me feeding my youngest, I’m totally gutted about that. It’s such a special time, so make sure you get someone to take a few photos!”

Nursing Gymnastics

Nyomi Winter: “This is me nursing my three-year-old who is performing ‘gymnurstics’. As you can see, she never stays still these days! I think it’s great if you can let your kids self wean. My first self weaned at 2.5 but my second is still going at 3.5. I’ll let her choose when to stop.
Nyomi also vlogs at: https://www.youtube.com/c/Nomipalonyuk

Megan Rossiter of Positively Birthing said: “I fed this little monkey until he self-weaned at 18 months- a total surprise and all the emotions! I can’t believe it’s finished! So glad I have photos like this though.

Breastfeeding babies with Down Syndrome

Hayley Balozi said: “It’s often assumed that babies with Down Syndrome can’t breastfeed, due to low muscle tone in the mouth. Yet here we are 3.5 years in and he is thriving. The benefits for him have been unreal! It wasn’t easy, but it wasn’t impossible either.”